Aoyama

Chapter 318: Learning Silver
In the early morning, before the roosters crowed, the sound of flowing water could be heard in the Ginkgo Garden.

Xiaoman sat on a small chair beside the bed and opened her eyes drowsily.

She stood up holding the little black cat, pushed the door open following the sound of water, and saw Chen Ji rolling up his sleeves, picking up a wooden bucket and pouring water into the large vat in the ear room.

She rubbed her eyes and said in astonishment, "Sir, you really went to fetch water? Which noble young man would fetch water by himself? If it gets out, people will laugh at you."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "I'm not some noble son. I'm just an apprentice in a clinic. I don't care what others think of me."

Xiaoman muttered, "You are no longer in the clinic, so don't mention your identity as an apprentice in the clinic anymore. Many people in the capital don't know about it."

Chen Ji put down his rolled-up sleeves and said seriously: "Xiao Man, being a medical apprentice is my favorite identity. There is nothing shameful about it."

Xiaoman raised her head and cautiously asked, "Is it because you met the princess there?"

Chen Ji paused for a moment while pulling at his sleeves, and said frankly, "Not all of them. There are also my master, two senior brothers, the prince, Brother Gou'er, and Brother Mao'er. Oh, and there is also a little monk who can see through other people's minds. He should be practicing in Yuanjue Temple now. We can go see him when we have time."

Xiaoman whispered, "Sir, let me say something unpleasant. The princess..."

Chen Ji interrupted, "Xiao Man, even if you are trapped in Jingyang Palace, I will try my best to save you."

Xiaoman's eyes lit up: "Really? Master, you didn't lie to me?"

"Really, really," Chen Ji changed the subject: "By the way, how much silver do I have left?"

Xiao Man calculated carefully, "When you left Guyuan, you still had 237 taels of silver on you. When we became sworn brothers, my second sister gave you 600 taels as a gift. When we returned to Chen's house, my sister Duan Wu gave me 100 taels to buy your information. I got 30 taels of silver... I got 20 taels, and you got 80 taels. The total is 917 taels of silver."

Chen Ji thought that to grow a stripe, he needed to light 720 furnace fires, which would require 360 ​​old ginsengs and tens of thousands of taels of silver...

He now has three stripes on his body, and five hundred and fifty fires...

At least more than 40,000 taels of silver will be needed!

The tiger method is too expensive. Where can I get so much money? Even if I sell all my aunt's property, I may not be able to exchange it for so much money.

Moreover, he had another thing to do that required a lot of silver.

Chen Ji thought for a moment and asked, "Xiao Man, has your aunt ever taught you business tips? Has she ever told you which business in the capital is the most profitable?"

Xiaoman thought for a while and said, "My aunt said that being a businessman is not profitable, being a minister is the most profitable."

Chen Ji was surprised: "That makes sense."

Xiaoman counted on her fingers and said, "Salt, iron, tea, and silver are the most profitable, but they are all in the hands of the court. The only business that ordinary people can do is to open a small inn or a wine shop, or do handicrafts or be a tailor. If they can make dozens or hundreds of taels of silver every year, they are satisfied. It is a good thing if they don't owe debts... By the way, my aunt told me about a very profitable business."

Chen Ji's eyes lit up: "What kind of business?"

Xiaoman smiled and said, "Searching the property, my aunt said that seizing the property is the fastest way to make money, with no investment and huge profits."

Chen Ji seemed to be thinking about something.

At this time, Xiaoman said again: "But my aunt also said that although how to make money is important, what you use the money for is the most important thing."

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Man, we need to save money recently. Save a lot of money."

Xiaoman was puzzled: "What do you want so much money for, is it for a betrothal gift?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No, you will know later. You can take a nap. I have to report to the Yulin Army Commander's Office."

Xiaoman followed him to the gate of the courtyard and said, "Then I'll bring you lunch at noon? The Chen family's meals are free. Now the master and the eldest master have told the kitchen staff, so they dare not embarrass me anymore. We should save money and spend money, but if your colleagues see us, they might laugh at you for being so shabby that you don't even want to go to a restaurant."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. Let them think whatever they want."

Xiaoman suddenly said, "By the way, this little black cat hasn't been named yet. Please give it a name... You haven't held it yet."

She held the little black cat in front of her, and the little black cat looked around with its round eyes.

Chen Ji didn't reach out to take it, but just smiled and said, "Just give it a name."

After saying this, he turned around and walked along the blue brick path out of the side door of Qinzheng Garden.

……

……

The Chen family is the second family on Fuyou Street. In front of the door is a clean blue brick road with plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum carved on the bricks.

As soon as he went out, he saw Li Xuan waiting at the door. Qi Chenzhuo leaned against the side door and kicked the stone lion in front of the Chen family's door.

When he saw Chen Ji coming out, he quickly wiped the footprints on the stone lion with his sleeve and said, "Master, you finally came out."

Chen Ji asked in confusion: "Why are you going to report for duty so early in the morning? I thought you would sleep at home."

Qi Chenzhuo sighed, "My family finally managed to get me out of the imperial prison, so I have to do my duty honestly. If that vicious minister catches me again, my father will probably break my legs."

Chen Ji looked at Li Xuan and asked, "Why are you waiting for me here?"

Qi Chenzhuo hurriedly explained, "The Qi family is the first one on Fuyou Street, and your Chen family is the second one. Aren't we just on the same way? Besides, Zhao Zhuofan, a subordinate of Chen Wenren, was chopped off, and he might be thinking of revenge. This person has no serious skills, but a lot of bad skills. What if he finds someone to intercept you halfway and delay your time to report? So it's better to go together."

Chen Ji hummed.

Qi Chenzhuo added, "I'm not looking down on you, Master. We all know your abilities, but the second branch of the Chen family has several high-ranking officials. If that kid orders the high-ranking officials to do something bad to you, you won't be able to guard against it."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "No need to explain, thank you."

The three of them walked together across the Taiping Bridge made of white marble. On the other side of the bridge were no longer the mansions of noble families, but small alleys with smoke rising from chimneys.

When I walked through the alley, the sky was still blue.

On the coal stove at the entrance of the alley, steamers were stacked higher than a person. An old man in a short coat knocked on the edge of the pot with an iron spoon and shouted crisply: "Jiaoquan! Sugar-coated cakes!" In front of the stall were a few small tables and small stools. The day laborers who gathered together to eat breakfast muttered: "Who won the fight on the overpass yesterday? I was in a hurry to deliver vegetables to the Hu family and didn't dare to stop to take a closer look."

The stall owner laughed cheerfully and said, "It must be Hutchison. Hutchison has been winning for seven years, suppressing Ruifuxiang so much that they can't even raise their heads."

At the small table, a man said mysteriously, "I was watching it on the overpass yesterday, and almost missed the party at Minister Li's house... Hehe, it's really not Hutchison who won this time!"

"Come on, tell me, what's going on?"

"I don't know where Rui Fuxiang got this new stick from. He's nicknamed Pao Ge and is very skilled. He beat Wang Kui from Heji so badly that he lost his way!"

"Oh! So powerful?"

Chen Ji stopped walking, and Li Xuan looked back in confusion: "What's wrong? They are all hangers-on in East City who are not worthy of being on the stage. They wrestle and fight all day long, fighting for territory, and the government is having a headache. I don't know who is supporting them from behind, and no one has touched them for so many years."

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "It's okay, let's go."

The three of them walked along West Chang'an Street to the front gate, where more than 200 Yulin soldiers were on the parade ground.

Chen Wenren, who was giving a speech, turned his head and glanced at them when he saw them come in, then spoke again: "From today on, all of us Yulin soldiers will take turns on duty. If anyone fails to show up at 11:00 a.m., don't blame me for being ruthless..."

Qi Zhuozhuo smiled and pulled Chen Ji forward, interrupting Chen Wenren's words: "Let me introduce you to my colleagues. This is our Yulin Army's coach Chen Ji. From now on, he will teach us how to use weapons. Those brothers who came back from Guyuan know what he is capable of. It doesn't matter if those brothers who have never been to Guyuan don't know, you will know sooner or later..."

Before he could finish, Chen Wenren sneered and interrupted Qi Chenzhuo: "I have read the document from the Ministry of War. It only promoted him to a small flag officer, and did not say that he would be a coach. Among our brothers in the Yulin Army, is there any official position lower than a small flag officer?"

After saying this, the Yulin soldiers beside him burst into laughter, and the white pheasant tails on their heads shook.

The Yulin Army was a place for the children of officials to gild their reputations.

In the Shenji Camp, Wansui Army and Wujun Camp, from top to bottom, they are divided into generals, deputy generals, military officers, thousand households, hundred households, general flags, small flags and soldiers.

The Yulin Army was composed of commanders, centurions, general flags, small flags, and soldiers. The strange thing was that 90% of the Yulin Army were small flag officers, so there were more officers than soldiers.

Qi Chenzhuo pointed at a person beside Chen Wenren and said, "Li Bing, don't think I don't know how you raised that little flag. Didn't your family hire a few bandits for you to catch and take credit for it? How dare you smile like that?"

Li Bing's face changed: "Qi Zhuozhuo, is your ass clean? Do you think I don't know how you were promoted to deputy commander?"

Qi was speechless after considering it.

He hesitated for a long time: "The man has reformed now!"

The Yulin Army on the opposite side burst into laughter: "What you said is like farting, and you still want to change your ways?"

Chen Wenren said coldly: "We all know each other well in the Yulin Army, so no one should act like a big shot. Besides, 70% of our Yulin Army brothers have some experience in the ways of being an official, so why do we need him to teach us?"

Duo Bao, who came back from Guyuan with him, narrowed his eyes and said, "You think you are a great official? Everyone is like an official. When you go to the battlefield, you will understand that when the Jing Dynasty cavalry rushes towards you, the official is just a target."

Chen Wenren laughed and pointed at Chen Ji and said, "Okay, since he wants to be the coach, I'll find someone to play against him. If he wins, I'll let him be the coach. If he loses, he'll just be his flag officer. Wang Fang, you come and try him. If you win, you'll be the coach of our garrison."

The Yulin Army made way, revealing a burly man inside.

Qi Chenzhuo whispered to Chen Ji, "Master, don't worry. Although this centurion Wang Fang always says that he has stepped into the realm of seeking the Tao, I think he is just a show-off and has never fought with anyone. With your ability..."

Before he could finish, Chen Ji said, "If you can't beat him, don't try."

Qi Chenzhuo was stunned.

Chen Ji walked towards the Governor's Mansion, and as he walked he said casually: "The Yulin Army is full of military officers, and everyone has unique skills. They can't learn anything from me. Don't listen to Qi Zhengzhuo's nonsense. I was just lucky in Guyuan, and I don't have any real skills."

Chen Wenren was stunned. He had originally prepared a lot of methods, but he didn't expect that Chen Ji had no intention of seizing power at all, which made him at a loss as to what to do for a moment.

Qi Chenzhuo followed behind Chen Ji and whispered, "Master, why do you say that? Can killing hundreds of people in a battle be considered luck?"

Chen Ji turned to look at him and asked doubtfully, "What good is there in teaching these people?"

Qi Chenzhuo said as a matter of course: "He is the coach of the Yulin Army. How impressive would it be if we told others about him?"

Chen Ji asked again in confusion: "Is the Yulin Army a very powerful and famous army?"

Qi Chenzhuo opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Chen Ji entered the Governor's Mansion, took out the armor from the cabinet and put it on. Li Xuan said beside him, "It doesn't matter if you don't want to compete for the position of instructor, but the brothers who came back from Guyuan all want to learn some weapons from you."

Chen Ji lowered his head, put on his armor, and remained silent.

Qi Chenzhuo didn't know for a moment whether he was willing to teach or not, and he was so anxious that he scratched his head and said, "Master, please say something."

Chen Ji remained silent.

At this moment, Li Xuan suddenly remembered something and whispered to Qi Chenzhuo, "Longmen Inn."

Qi Chenzhuo was puzzled: "What Dragon Gate Inn? Brother-in-law, why are you mentioning Dragon Gate Inn at this time? Don't mention that place. I have nightmares in Dragon Gate Inn now."

Li Xuan whispered, "Have you forgotten why he went to Longmen Inn alone earlier? He traded information about His Highness."

Qi Zhuozhuo woke up with a start, and immediately turned to Chen Ji and said, "Master, if you teach me how to use weapons, I will give you fifty taels of silver per month!"

Chen Ji put on his armor, stroked his shiny breastplate with his hand, and said, "Deal."

He turned to look at Li Xuan again: "Master Li, do you want to learn?"

Li Xuan: "...study, but my wife manages the finances, and I can't afford that much."

Chen Ji comforted him in a gentle voice: "It's okay, it's all sincerity, sincerity will work."

(End of this chapter)